Getty
Washington Commanders offensive lineman Brandon Coleman.
The Washington Commanders did whatever they could to piece together their offensive line in 2024 — and somehow it worked. Regarded as one of the NFL’s worst position groups before the season, it’s a testament to how well Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury coached up their guys that the Commanders played as well as they did.
One of the spots where the Commanders were basically operating with duct tape was at left offensive tackle, where veteran Cornelius Lucas and rookie Brandon Coleman essentially double-teamed the spot all season.
Headed into 2025, things up front are very, very different for the Commanders as they look to invest heavily in the offensive line in hopes of protecting their most precious commodity — and one of the NFL’s shining stars — with second year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders made what were relatively seismic moves on the offensive line in the offseason.
At left offensive tackle, the Commanders made a trade for 4-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil to block for Daniels’ blind side. In the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, Washington selected Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall.
Even with those 2 moves, another under-the-radar move might be just as important — when Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced Coleman was being moved inside to left guard.
That move might spell the beginning of the end for 3-time Super Bowl champion Nick Allegretti, who started all 17 games for the Commanders at left guard last season.
“This is where Coleman’s skills are best suited,” Riggo’s Rag’s Dean Jones wrote on June 11. “He manned left tackle duties valiantly as a rookie, but Tunsil represents the biggest upgrade imaginable. The Commanders’ placing him inside could be bad news for Nick Allegretti, who signed in free agency last year but struggled to find the consistency needed.”
Nick Alegretti playoff performer
Commanders Have Out In Allegretti’s Contract
While there’s virtually no chance Allegretti isn’t with the Commanders in 2025, there’ a good chance if Coleman performs well this could be his final year in Washington.
Allegretti signed a 3-year, $16 million contract with the Commanders in 2024 and can be released following the 2025 season and save the team roughly $10 million in salary cap space. Allegretti played the first 5 seasons of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2019 to 2023, winning 3 Super Bowls and playing in another.
What the Commanders might need Allegretti to do in 2025 might vary. Right guard Sam Cosmi is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the NFC Divisional Round against the Detroit Lions. Allegretti seems like a prime candidate to fill that spot until Cosmi returns.
Allegretti Finds 2 Young OL Trying to Replace Him
This isn’t the first time Allegretti has found himself in the middle of rumors about his ouster.
“This is Football” host Kevin Clark predicted Conerly would replace Allegretti at left guard before Coleman’s position switch.
“I loved Washington’s draft … I think with Conerly you play guard right away,” Clark said. “They have Andrew Wylie at right tackle, they have Nick Allegretti at left guard, Sam Cosmi at right guard and I think (Conerly) could push Allegretti out, who I think is a really good swing interior lineman. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up with a Laremy Tunsil/Conerly left side.”
